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PrintTeaching Your Dog to Greet People Politely
Photograph by madeleine openshaw/istockphoto
Summer is a great time of year to include Fido on family outings and walks, but it can be daunting for pet owners if their dog is the one who wears the pants in the family. Nobody is the “proud parent” of an unruly dog! Trainer Anna Morey Seekamp shares her expertise on how to train your dog to politely greet people, so your outings with the whole family can be enjoyable for everyone!
When embarking on this training exercise, it is important to find a friend who will be a patient and willing participant. You might have to bribe your friend with lunch, but it will be worth it! You also need plenty of small dog treats and a 6’ leash.
Begin by asking your friend to stand about 20’ away from you and your dog. Get your dog’s attention by asking him to look at you, and then reward him with a treat. By making your dog “check in” with you, you are telling him that you are the boss and his focus needs to be on you, not on others. Dogs learn through repetitive behavior, so consistency in your training is the key. Be prepared to repeat this exercise numerous times before your dog begins to catch on. The goal is that your dog will sit when someone approaches to greet you and/or him.
After you have your dog’s attention, begin walking toward your friend.
If your dog begins to pull on the leash or loses his focus on you, turn him around and walk back to the starting point. Begin the process again by asking him to sit and to look at you, and then reward him with a treat. After you are able to successfully approach your friend, ask your dog to sit, and then greet your friend. If your dog stays seated, reward him with a treat; have your friend reward him by petting him. If he jumps up, say “too bad” and turn your dog around and walk back to the start. Do not tug on his leash, as he will associate this reaction with the greeting process. Repeat the exercise, using treats, until he understands that he is to stay seated through the greeting process.
Again, the key in all training exercises is repetition. Undoubtedly, training requires a lot of treats. To insure the health and well being of your dog, use organic or natural brands such as Dr. Becker’s Bites, Daisy’s Delights, Dogchewz NYC “Toy” Temptations, or Evanger’s Jerky Treats. You can find these products online or in fine pet stores or pet boutiques. If you’re in the area, try Dog Town in Palo Alto, Plaza de Paws in Burlingame, or Molly’s Pup-Purr-ee in Danville. Happy training!
For further training tips visit annathedogtrainer.com, or ourpack.org.
